Improvement in flour-bolts



G. T. & A. SNHTH.

Hour-Baits.

Patented Feb. 4,1873.V

SUALE SCALE AM PHoTo-Lmmwmc ca :u1/(assum masas@ is fitted with a cord, 7c, at the STATES- PATEHQE IM PROV-EM ENT IN FLO'URv-BOLTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,496, dated February 4, 1873.

1o all lwhom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGET. SMITH and AARON SMITH, both of Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain Improvements in Flour- Dressing Machines, of which the following is a specification:

The object of our invention is to improve on the present methods of dressing or bolting flour and we have therefore contrived a mechanism-hereinafter described-in which we have embodied our invention,

In the drawing, Figure 1 shows a vertical cross-section of our dresser. Fig. 2 shows a vertical longitudinal section of our dresser. Fig. 3 shows a plan in section. Fig. 4 shows an elevation of one-half the front end; and Fig. 5 shows an elevation of one-half the rear end.

y We construct our mechanism by making a case, A, whichincloses all but the feed-hopper, fan, and driving-gear. is a bolting-case, B, closed, except as hereinafter mentioned, at the top, sides, and ends, and with a bolting-cloth, to cover the bottom. The case B rests upon a shaft, b, which has journals at each end, and upon this shaft we oscillate it, using, preferably, for this purpose a pitman, c, attached to the wheel d. We have shown the bolting-case B as divided by partitions into three chambers, E F G, each having an adjustable opening, e, at the top into thesuction air-tube H. This tube -is connected to and passes over the top of the bolting-case B, and down its rear end till it meets and opens into a tubem, attached to the case A, and connected with a suction-fan, J. In each chamber is a shelf, j', and, at one side of the shelf, an opening, g, into a spout, h. The opening is covered by a sliding gate, t', which top, and with a spring at the bottom. Another" gate, m, is fitted with a cord, 7c', and with a spring. r r are belts, fastened at the ends to the outer ease, and running over pullics on the lower part of the bolting-case. Attached to this belt are brushes s s. V is a hopper for feeding the meal to thefbolt. M is the conveyer, and from its shaft We prefer to belt to the driv ing-power and to the wheel d and fan J. S is `an opening in the case A for admission of air.

The operation of our mechanism, is as fol- Inside this case lows, viz.: The meal to be bolted is fed to the bolt at the upper end,and when the bolt is oscillated it is thrownfrom one side to the other, sliding across the cloth, and sifting freely through it. As the air is drawn by the suction-fan through the cloth the lighter portion of the bran and specks passes up over the tops of the shelves ff, some of it being carried ofl by the fan, and some falling to the bottom of the shelves. As the bolt is oscillated toward the side on which the spouts are placed the cord k opens the gate i, and the last-mentioned portion of the refuse is thrown into the spout, the reverse motion closing the gate 7c and opening the gate m, so that the waste may fall into a hopper near the outer case. The boltcloth is cleaned by being drawn across the brushes as the bolt is oscillated, and thus the air is allowed to pass freely through the meshes.

The chambers, as shown, are furnished with `different grades of cloth 5 and, as the bolt is inclined toward the rear, the meal naturally flows in that direction, the finest particles being sifted out in E, the next finest in F, the next in G, and the coarse refuse passing oft at the lower end.

We .prefer to use three chambers, but in some cases one would be all that was required.

The conveyer operates in the same manner and for the same purpose as those ordinarily used in flour-dressers. Suitable openings are made in the cases for the admission of air, for examining the progress of the work, or for adL justin g or repairing. f

We do not wish to confine ourselves to the particular position shown in the drawing for the shaft b, as it may sometimes be found desirable to place it higher, or to suspend the bolt from it; but we consider the point shown to be the best of any.

In some cases it would not be requisite to have as many brushes beneath the, cloth as are shown in the drawing, as, when the center of oscillation is raised, one or two might be found to answer all purposes.

We consider our mechanism, as shown, to be preferable to that of either a reciprocating or a revolving bolt, as in the former the meal is sifted more slowly; and in the latter it is thrown or falls against the meshes, forcing through them particles which we extract as Waste; while in ours the sliding motion which 2. `In combination with an oscillating bolt', We give to the meal leaves the sides of the the shelf f, gates i and m, and spout h, subbolt, alternately, entirely free for an air-passtantially as and for the purpose specied.

sage, land submits the meal to the constant ac- 3. In combination with an 'oscillating bolt, tion of the air. the belts V and brushes s, substantially as de- We claim as our inventionscribed, and for the purpose set forth. l. The combination of the case A, provided GEORGE T. SMITH. with air-inlets S, oscillatin g bolt-case B, shaft b, AARON SMITH.

bolt-cloth a, air-tube H, and fan J, when said parts are constructed and arranged to operate Witnesses: substantially in the manner and for the pur- J. S. EINES, pose described. J. D. RICH. 

